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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

MesVitrines NYC

Tea at Petrossian, original watercolor

Not many admit to 'doing windows', but that's exactly what Parisian Anne Conners does. Anne goes around NYC, analyzing, shooting the fashion windows for her blog, MesVitrinesNYC and for a French online fashion publication, Fashion- Addict

Anne visited PB. After several blog visits back and forth we agreed to meet for tea. I suggested PetrossianBoutique, one of New York's Frenchiest cafs - 911 7th Avenue. We did notget Petrossian's caviar proudly displayed in the windows - it's sitting on faux diamonds not ice.Nor did I buy these lovely Petrossian cups for a still life. Quelle triste. Instead we go to their tiny tea salon and get tea for two. The staff sends us down to the front window to pick out desserts. Anne chose the gateau coulant au chocolatright.Miam miam! I'm passionate for anything passion fruit since gobbling Pierre Herme's divine passion fruit macarons so I get the passion tarte on the right.Competing desserts - an apple tarte.

A black berry thing.

Anne, ever the discerning Parisien, inspects her dessert.

Ah ha! Success! Anne is happy.

She explains what a 'coulant' is with sloopy hand gestures. I guess wildly - a ski slope? a hill? a valley? Getting nowhere fast.

I found out today a gateau coulant au chocolat means MOLTEN CHOCOLATE! You can find a nice recipe for it at La Tartines

The 'demise' of our desserts.

Anne, in true French fashion leaves 1/2 uneaten on her plate. I as usual leave my crust and scoop out the tart's innards...hmmm

Anne said when her Parisien friends come to NYC, they HAVE to go to Magnolia Bakery! They're just as in love with Cary and Sex in The City as we are. *Please visit Anne Corrons' blog,MesVitrines NYC to see how Anne makes NYC windows look just like Paris windows. You'll never get lost in tranlation atchez Anne.

Ohhh La LA...which to choose which to choose....I am partial the the creme brulee, no the blackberries, no the apples, no the coulant>...Mon dieu, see what you have done??!!!! I AM lost in translation...need to say YUMMMMMMM in a zillion global languages. :)All best, Jan

I´m mexican, and i love your blog. It´s really like been in Paris. I has over a year watching your Paris... but finally i´m going to France... well, i´m going to Spain but also to Paris 3 days.And i want to ask you were can i buy the best macaron? and i want to buy antique close... i don´t know... What do you recommend to me?

I've been having a wonderful time each morning watching your colourful adventures! I absolutely love your art & commentary and it makes me feel like I'm not trapped at my desk working all day on Long Island.

I ate fondant cake my friend made for me right before we left France (2 weeks ago)...ate until I got ill. I was soooo sick. But this photo of yours has revived my craving and I'm gonna get a recipe and make my own! (Oh how I wish we had a shop that made them though.)

I've never told you this before, but I'm really not much of a Francophile. It's true! I'm sure they are lovely and stylish but my true leanings are much more toward the British....probably the gardening, the understated humor, the bad weather, the cozy mysteries. I took 3 years of French, in another lifetime, when I was young, but still... French things don't naturally make my heart beat faster. In fact, I have often wondered why I am so besotted by your posts. Anyway, today's post has finally enlightened me: I cannot be a Francophile because I would no more leave a crumb on my plate than I would dine naked in a restaurant! Quelle horreur!However, I intend to keep enjoying your posts because you curate the French in such a way as to make all things French irresistable!

awww, i saw the pictures of the pastries and remind me so bad of Paris...well, if you want to get a new different tea with the most amazing pastries in nez york,you should try Tavalon teas which is all over new york, bloomindale for example..